Affiliation:
1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery University Hospital, LMU Munich Munich Germany
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the study was to determine the risk of lymph node recurrence in levels IV and V after tumour resection and neck dissection of level I–III and level I–V.MethodsData from 228 patients suffering from OSCC were analysed retrospectively. Patients with level I–III neck dissection were compared to those with level I–V neck dissection in terms of number and location of nodal recurrence.The incidence of level IV–V recurrence in patients who had received level I–III neck dissection was compared with that of patients who had received level I–V neck dissection. The incidence of level IV–V recurrence was also compared between patients with pN0 and pN+ necks.ResultsOverall, 19 patients developed metastases. Only in two cases appeared nodal recurrence in levels IV or V. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups.ConclusionsNeck dissection of levels I–III seems to be sufficient treatment in cases of unsuspicious lymph nodes in levels IV and V, even in cases of positive nodes in levels I–III if adjuvant radiation therapy is applied. However, 5‐year‐disease free survival rate is lower in patients with nodal metastases in levels IV and V than in patients with metastases located in levels I–III.